The Calgary Flames are heading into that stretch of September when the noise starts to build and the roster battles get real.
Players are back in town, informal skates are already happening, and rookie camp is right around the corner. That means training camp and the preseason are almost here - and for a number of Flames hopefuls, that’s where the work turns into an audition.
Head coach Ryan Huska made that point while talking with the media at the Calgary Flames Celebrity Charity Golf Classic. With several roster spots still unsettled, the preseason schedule is going to give prospects, younger players and veterans trying to get back on track a chance to show they belong.
Under the NHL’s new preseason rules, players with more than 100 NHL games can only appear in two exhibition games. That opens the door for everyone else, but it also raises the pressure. There’s more ice time available, and less margin for error.
“I think for people trying to steal jobs, the exhibition games are going to be important,” Huska said.
That message fits a camp that already has a few clear names to watch. Alex Nylander arrives in Calgary on a professional tryout and will be trying to prove he can still be an NHL contributor after being selected eighth overall.
For him, this isn’t just about getting sharpened up for opening night. It’s about staying in the picture at all.
Connor Zary is another player with something to prove after what the source describes as difficult or underwhelming seasons. September gives him a chance to reset things, and a strong camp can change the tone around a player fast.
The same goes for Calgary’s younger prospects. With veterans limited to two preseason appearances, more opportunities should open up for players who might otherwise spend most of the exhibition schedule on the outside looking in.
A strong showing can build momentum. A couple of strong showings can force the coaching staff to reconsider where someone fits.
“Those are going to be situations where you want to make sure that you really can show that you’re ready to, one: play and two: take someone’s job,” Huska said. “And take advantage of it if you’re in those couple games.”
That’s the heart of preseason for a big chunk of this roster. The games don’t count in the standings, but they absolutely count for the players trying to win a place.
The Flames will get their first look at some of those hopefuls quickly. Calgary hosts the Edmonton Oilers in the NextGen Showcase on Monday, September 14, and prospects such as Matvei Gridin, Tyson Gross, Axel Hurtig and Arsenii Sergeev are expected to be on the ice as they start making their cases.
For some players, it will just be a warm-up. For others, it could be the start of something bigger.
The opportunity is there.
Now they have to take it.
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